Seoul Zoo!

One weekend in September, we decided to go down to the Seoul Zoo, which is the 10th largest zoo in the world! It was so big that we really didn't get to a lot of it, including the cool sky lift that went across the park that we had already paid for. Maybe next time we'll do that first. We did enjoy our time there though. The highlights of course were seeing all the cool animals, a dolphin show, and spending wonderful time with my sweet family. :)

As a family, we have made it to quite a variety of zoos, especially over the last year or two. Chris and I only went to the zoo once or twice as children, and we went to the St. Louis zoo (which is really nice and free by the way) with Chris's brother before we had kids.  When Claire was two, we started going to many zoos - Oakland California Zoo (April 2011), San Diego Zoo (September 2011), Jackson Mississippi Zoo (April 2012), and now the Seoul Zoo (September 2012). Not too shabby! I guess we should plan on another trip to a zoo next April to continue the pattern. 

Claire ready for a fun day at the zoo.

There are a few different parts to the Seoul Grand Park where the Seoul Zoo is located. Not only is the huge zoo housed there, but there is a big amusement park, a large lake, and a botanical garden. 

The entrance to the Seoul Grand Park. We had to take a tram from there to get to the actual zoo.

As we walked from the subway station to the path to the entrance above, the walkway was lined with different vendors selling Korean snacks, toys, and those crazy long sun visors they wear that Chris calls their welding helmet. (It's so big, and often shiny, that it looks like they are going to pull it over their face to weld.)

This is my friend's son wearing said visor, except he actually looks cute.

Anyway, Claire saw an inflatable puppy on wheels with a leash at one of the vendors and she fell in love with it. We told her we would buy her something little, but that she should look around first, and not buy the first thing she saw. She could not get this puppy out of her mind. After a while, we told her that we would get it closer to when we left, so she wouldn't have to carry it around the whole time at the zoo. Then she started asking when we were going to leave the zoo because she really wanted that puppy. (What a one track mind!) Chris and I looked at each other, and gave in. She enjoyed that zoo experience so much more because she got to walk her puppy around the whole zoo (whom she named Gus.) She adores him.

Claire walking Gus

That's one big tiger!

What funny creatures

Many of these giraffes looked darker than I'm used to seeing. They are so cool though.

Pretty creek

So as a side note, this was one of the smellier zoos I've been to. Granted, you are always going to have some smells with all the animals, and this being so big, it isn't surprising. Just don't say I didn't warn you.

Well hello to you Mr. Rhino.

Check out those huge horns! He's not walking through any narrow doorways.

Pretty little garden with the gorgeous mountains in the background.

I like the elephant reaching for something. I think he later put some stick thing on his back. Hee hee.

Cool sculptures

More massive horns

Botanical Garden

Claire with a cute monkey and Gus.

Claire imitating the gorilla

 There was an area with lots of animal statues you could pose with. We had a lot of fun with them. :)

Maddie in the hippo's mouth

We had a wonderful day as a family, and we were all pretty worn out by the end of the day. We look forward to going back to a zoo in the spring.